CLS-Chapter 643

Chapter 643:

“Well done!”

Wei Yan-ho waved both arms wildly.

The Imperial Guard’s momentum pierced the heavens. Even Wei Yan-ho, who was watching, made a mental note not to mess with that uncle swinging his spear at the very front with such ferocity.

That was how tremendous the Imperial Guard’s might was.

“Heh heh…”

Even Divine Strategist couldn’t hide his sense of futility.

‘They say the Imperial Palace doesn’t oppose the martial world because of the northern barbarians, but those words aren’t entirely wrong.’

Of course, even the Imperial Guard would find it impossible to conquer the martial world. There were two reasons they could display such might.

One was, paradoxically, that the White Sword Castle disciples were extremely numerous.

For a broom to be effective, there must be many things to sweep away. Flying dust cannot be swept with a broom. A small number of masters would be difficult for the Imperial Guard to handle. But those gathered like this were perfect prey for the Imperial Guard.

And the other reason was that Wei Yan-ho had gone on a rampage first.

To face such a military force, White Sword Castle naturally should have formed ranks. But White Sword Castle was focused on dealing with Wei Yan-ho, leaving their formation in disarray.

With the Imperial Guard striking at White Sword Castle’s exposed flank, there was no way they could hold out.

‘But even so, they’re definitely strong.’

No matter the reasons, without inherent strength, they couldn’t have driven back White Sword Castle like this.

The Imperial Guard’s strength exceeded what the world spoke of. It even surpassed Divine Strategist’s expectations.

‘They said the Imperial Palace lost its power, being manipulated by eunuchs, but while I don’t know about the palace, the military has been steadily building its strength.’

Along with admiration came regret.

During the past war with the Demonic Cult, if the Imperial Palace had definitively helped the martial world, they might not have suffered such damage.

‘How foolish.’

He knew why the Imperial Palace hadn’t intervened.

No matter how much the Demonic Cult were outsiders and the martial world were Central Plains people, from the Imperial Palace’s perspective, the Central Plains were also sword-wielding ruffians. So they would have hoped both sides would exhaust themselves.

But the war became prolonged, and by then it would have become awkward to intervene. And now, thinking the Righteous Martial Alliance was at a disadvantage, they were lending a hand.

Though their ulterior motives were transparent and infuriating, Divine Strategist was currently in a position where he’d borrow even a cat’s paws.

If the Imperial Palace was helping, he should bow in gratitude rather than voice complaints.

‘It’s fortunate they came now at least!’

Now only one thing remained.

They needed to join in before the tide completely turned. But that too wasn’t easy. If they approached carelessly and those people triggered their plague, they’d only earn curses for ruining a sure thing.

Then?

“Shaolin! Wudang! Namgung!”

“Command us!”

“Form attack squads centered on those who haven’t suffered plague outbreaks.”

Those who had experienced it once and were fine should have no problems.

Anyway, what they needed to do now wasn’t commit full strength to secure victory. That was already done. They just needed to make their presence known before it was too late.

“The situation has reversed, White Sword Castle. Now, what will you do?”

A leisurely smile bloomed on Divine Strategist’s lips.

‘This is…’

Contrary to Divine Strategist’s relaxed face, Heavenly Flow Sword’s face was deathly black.

He hadn’t anticipated this at all.

‘How could I not have thought of this!’

The martial world wasn’t the only thing that existed under heaven. Rather, the martial world was just a very small part compared to all under heaven. He should have thought that the Imperial Palace could intervene at any time, but foolishly, he hadn’t considered it.

No, he had.

Surely when first preparing the invasion of the Central Plains, the Imperial Palace had been within their scope of vigilance.

Why had he overlooked it?

Heavenly Flow Sword’s gaze followed Wei Yan-ho.

If everything had gone according to their plan, this wouldn’t have happened. Nothing in the world goes according to plan, and variables always interfere, but the variable called Wei Yan-ho had shattered their expectations far beyond what they’d imagined.

That’s why this situation occurred.

“Uncle!”

Baek Hoe-myeong’s urgent voice was heard.

He knew all too well what that voice meant. If they didn’t act immediately, they would collapse helplessly.

But what could be done?

Right now, Heavenly Flow Sword could do one of two things.

Either resist with all his might while slowly watching White Sword Castle’s destruction, or quickly surrender to save the lives of those remaining.

Or he could simply watch their gradual annihilation as things stood.

None of these choices contained what he wanted.

They couldn’t win.

The Righteous Martial Alliance slowly approaching while baring their teeth, the Imperial Guard ruthlessly ravaging them with spears and blades at this very moment, and more than anything else…

Wei Yan-ho, quietly maintaining distance while gathering his strength, was the most frightening.

They had given that monster time.

Even if they could deal with the Imperial Guard, they’d have to fight Wei Yan-ho who had recovered his strength. After that, the Righteous Martial Alliance would charge again.

There was no way to win.

“Why!”

Heavenly Flow Sword let out a roar of rage.

“Why is Heaven so generous only to them!”

Tears of blood flowed from his eyes.

Was judgment this difficult?

They had waited three hundred years. For a full three hundred years, the Ten Thousand Swords had waited only for the moment to resolve this terrible grudge.

The justification was theirs.

They had made several times more effort too.

But why!

But why were they defeated again? Why!

“How can you be so cruel!”

Heavenly Flow Sword’s cry shook his entire body.

It was a desperate, far too desperate outcry.

Gray clouds rolled in to cover the sky.

It seemed even Heaven closed its eyes at Heavenly Flow Sword’s anguish. Unable to turn away from one human’s injustice? Heaven called clouds to hide its blue countenance.

Seeing this scene, Heavenly Flow Sword burst into mad laughter.

Don’t you know shame?

Don’t you know shame!

Why has it come to this?

They are immoral.

They are utterly cruel.

Weren’t they the ones who massacred innocent people yet pretended to be saintly gentlemen with their hypocrisy? If Heaven existed, and Heaven punished the guilty, this absolutely couldn’t happen.

Why!

“Whyyyyy!”

Darkness descended.

As if unable to watch innocent people fall, light was hidden by clouds and darkness dominated the world. Thunder and lightning poured down like screams.

That scene seemed to signify White Sword Castle’s end, making Heavenly Flow Sword even more anguished.

“Whyyyyyyyyyy!”

Just as Heavenly Flow Sword’s rage was about to take even his own life.

“Foolish one.”

Heavenly Flow Sword’s body stopped in place.

“Heaven helps no one. If you want something, you must grasp it with your own hands. Do you still not know even that?”

It split.

The gray clouds split.

It was like a scene of heaven and earth’s creation.

A single long line appeared in the clouds filling the sky, then the clouds split apart left and right with a crack as brilliant light began pouring down onto the earth.

It was a too-majestic scene.

Even those attacking withdrew their weapons.

Even those being chased stopped and looked up at the sky.

Right now, someone has changed the world.

Splitting the sky, sweeping away clouds, calling forth the sun.

Everyone was speechless at that tremendous scene. They even forgot they needed to do something.

They couldn’t even breathe.

Those who witnessed a miracle before their eyes didn’t know what to do.

Gazes didn’t know where to go.

Raised legs didn’t know where to step.

The world stopped.

Thunder and lightning subsided, clouds retreated. And in the center of that streaming sunlight stood one person.

An old man.

An old man wearing pure white robes stood there as if nothing had happened.

But everyone here knew.

It was that old man.

That old man had just split the sky [Danocheon].

Everyone was looking at the old man as if they’d seen a ghost.

Even the Imperial Guard that had been driving into White Sword Castle with fearsome momentum stopped their advance. Before this incomprehensible phenomenon, it wasn’t only people who froze their movements. Even thoroughly trained warhorses had lost their way.

The Righteous Martial Alliance was the same.

They saw it with their eyes.

But they couldn’t believe it.

When they couldn’t understand what they’d seen themselves, what were they supposed to do?

And even White Sword Castle was looking back at the old man, having forgotten what to say and do.

An overwhelming presence.

It seemed as if only the old man existed in this world now.

The old man had split the sky and stopped the war with a single sword.

Danocheon.

The sword that splits the sky.

“…Danocheon Sword.”

A moan flowed from Divine Strategist’s mouth.

Danocheon Sword Baek Gong-do.

The lord of White Sword Castle.

And Danocheon Sword Baek Gong-do, the head of the Ten Thousand Swords, had finally appeared here. After sweeping over the Imperial Guard and Righteous Martial Alliance once, Baek Gong-do turned his head to look at Heavenly Flow Sword Baek Gong-ui.

“Did I not tell you?”

“…”

“You still know nothing.”

“Brother…”

“Heaven has never once smiled upon the Ten Thousand Swords. Yet what more do you wish for?”

Heat boiled up on Heavenly Flow Sword’s face.

He came.

This person had finally come here.

And that meant the direction of this war was now decided.

Danocheon Sword Baek Gong-do.

Heavenly Flow Sword knew.

The old man was stronger than anyone in the world, and the old man’s sword was sharper than anything in the world.

If there was anyone in the world today who could bear the name of Ten Thousand Swords, it was only one: Baek Gong-do.

The reason White Sword Castle had struggled until now?

There was only one.

Because Baek Gong-do, the head of Ten Thousand Swords, hadn’t come to the front.

But now it was different.

Now that Baek Gong-do had moved, the world would no longer be able to handle the Ten Thousand Swords.

“You’ve suffered quite a bit.”

“Due to my foolishness…”

“Enough.”

Baek Gong-do waved his hand dismissively.

“How could it be your fault? If there’s fault, it would be mine. Though I knew I should lead everyone myself, I couldn’t do so. I too was merely caught in delusion.”

Bitterness seeped through.

Baek Gong-ui still didn’t understand Baek Gong-do. Why his appearance looked lonely even in this situation, why his face still bore shadows.

“Too many have died, far too many. Yes, it’s a meaningless sacrifice. Nothing but blood without meaning.”

Baek Gong-ui turned his head.

“You are Wei Yan-ho?”

“…”

Wei Yan-ho flinched.

Then he didn’t answer.

Divine Strategist subtly urged Wei Yan-ho.

“Why don’t you answer?”

“…Grandfather.”

“Yes?”

“That old man is really strong, you know?”

“…”

“He’s beyond human level?”

Divine Strategist’s eyes trembled.

If Wei Yan-ho was saying this?

Then just how strong was Baek Gong-do?

‘Well, he’s someone who split the sky with one sword.’

Even seeing it, he couldn’t believe it.

Of course, it wasn’t the sky. What he split were clouds.

But what difference did that make? If someone could split clouds with a sword, it was no exaggeration to say he split the sky.

Baek Gong-do quietly looked at Wei Yan-ho then opened his mouth.

“Let’s end this now, child.”

Wei Yan-ho quietly stepped backward.